“Did you notice how angry your sister is getting when you talk to her like that?” “Can you see that mom is frustrated when you’re not listening?” “What do you mean, you didn’t think she was sad? She’s crying!” These might seem like things only parents with kids on the Autistic spectrum may say to…
Category Archives: Conditions and Diseases
Truth or Dare
We’ve hit another strange milestone. I think the child has learned how to lie. Not that she does it well, mind you. Previously she has been honest to a fault: Why is your brother crying? Because I hit him… Ah. Whether I liked the answer or not, at least I knew it was true. There…
Special Exposure Wednesday – The Farm
A friend gifted us with tickets to a pumpkin patch, which we happily used the weekend before Halloween. Turns out it’s actually a working farm the rest of the year so the boy got to “work”, 🙂 Share what you managed to capture this week. Please don’t forget to spread the comment love around.
Trust
Shirt soaked, the suds engulfed my arms. Water sloshed as she fought me. She’s 9 and I’m still stronger, so I finally got her in the tub. Breathing hard, I knelt next to the bath, stroked her dark hair, poured calm words over her anguish. Warm water wrapped her struggle-reddened skin. She slowly calmed, began…
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
I’ve been a little slack at posting here. And today, I’m leaving you with a picture that I found and I want to adapt it to be my new mantra. The reason for the short post today is: I am currently in  Wisconsin at the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care conference. Only 1…
Different or Fancy?
It was a relatively easy, but somewhat mind-numbing task to accommodate the child’s fixed preferences at her place setting. We don’t have quite enough “matching” flatware pieces to make it to the next dishwasher run. We tend to run out of teaspoons and case knives before plates and bowls. Over the years of combining two…
Book Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Most people just don’t get it right. When they write for us, about us, or to us. When it comes to others’ view of our lives in families with special needs, I’ve never seen anyone show it like it really is.* The lack of realism, empathy (and appropriate gallows humor) is partly why I’m writing…
Thanksgiving
Oh, I know, it’s not even Halloween (quite) yet, but just like I’m sure you can find retail locations in your community that are a bit ahead of the game with the witches and ghosts keeping company with the Santas and menorahs, my heart is already set on Thanksgiving. Being thankful is good for you,…
Special Exposure Wednesday – On His Own
The boy attended a classmate’s birthday party at a theme park. He requested, nay, pleaded, to ride the boat on his own. There’s a side story to that but at least, he had fun. Share what you managed to capture this week. Please don’t forget to spread the comment love around.
US Autism & Asperger Association World Conference
US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA) will live stream the annual USAAA World Conference for the second straight year on USAAA TV. The broadcast will begin Thursday evening, 7 pm PST, October 27, 2011 and continue through Sunday, October 30, 2011. Over thirty of the world’s leading Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) experts will discuss evidence-based…